The Bauchi State Project Management Unit (SPMU) of the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) has officially opened bids for the establishment of 80 Integrated Water Schemes across cattle routes in the state.
The bid-opening exercise was presided over by the State Project Coordinator, Dr. Ibrahim Kabir with the support of officers from the SPMU and the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE), a sister project in the state.
While welcoming prospective contractors and other stakeholders to the event, Dr. Ibrahim Kabir explained that the exercise is part of the World Bank’s standard procedures for awarding contracts, aimed at ensuring transparency, accountability, and strict adherence to due process.
He noted that the establishment of the Integrated Water Schemes along cattle routes is designed to provide accessible drinking water points for both humans and livestock, thereby enhancing agricultural productivity.
According to him, the initiative will also help mitigate recurring farmer-herder conflicts in the benefiting communities, ultimately improving livelihoods and promoting peaceful coexistence.
For his part, the director of planning at the Ministry of Agriculture, Alhaji Ibrahim Isyaku, who represented the state Commissioner of the ministry, commended the initiative, describing it as a timely and commendable effort.
He emphasised that the project aligns with the state government’s commitment to providing potable water for rural communities and supporting agricultural development.
In a closing remark, a representative of AGILE expressed appreciation for ACReSAL’s transparent and well-organized bid-opening process, describing it as a model of accountability and collaboration between development projects in the state.
